Mental Health, Substance Abuse, Developmental Disabilities Tuition Forgiveness Jack Richman, Ph.D. Dean & Professor School of Social Work University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Anna Scheyett, Ph.D. Associate Dean & Clinical Associate Professor School of Social Work University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Stakeholders & Information Providers Mary Beth Hernandez, MA Associate Dean for Advancement School of Social Work UNC-Chapel Hill Crystal Bush, MSW, LCSW Director A1 Community Support Vance County, NC Leon Ginsberg, Ph.D. Professor and Director Department of Social Work Appalachian State University Sheila Bunch, Ph.D. Interim Director & Associate Professor School of Social Work College of Human Ecology East Carolina University
Stakeholders & Information Providers Elizabeth Lindsey, Ph.D. Professor and Chair Department of Social Work University of North Carolina Greensboro Katherine Boyd, MSW, ACSW Executive Director North Carolina Chapter National Association of Social Workers Jack Register, MSW, LCSW Director of Advocacy and Legislation North Carolina Chapter National Association of Social Workers Mark Sullivan, MSW Executive Director Mental Health Association in Orange County
Mental Health, Substance Abuse, Developmental Disabilities Tuition Forgiveness Background and Rationale
Why Is This Needed? NC has tremendous workforce challenges in mental health, developmental disabilities, and substance abuse services Inadequate number of qualified professional providers Inadequate number of qualified supervisory staff Professionals trained in cutting edge evidence-based practices are needed NC Commission for MH, DD, SAS, & NC Division of MH, DD, SAS (2008). The Workforce Development Initiative. Raleigh, NC: Author.
Where is The Need Greatest? There is a chronic mal-distribution of mental health, substance abuse, and developmental disabilities providers across the state Rural areas are the most vulnerable
NC has 24 counties considered Federal Mental Health Provider Shortage Areas Ashe Bertie Bladen Brunswick Caldwell Cherokee Clay Columbus Duplin Edgecombe Gates Graham Haywood Hertford Jackson Macon Madison Nash Northampton Pender Robeson Sampson Scotland Swain Health Resources and Services Administration http://bhpr.hrsa.gov/shortage/
Looking at Number of Licensed and Provisionally Licensed Social Workers in NC
How Can Social Workers Address This Need? Experience and focus: Social workers provide the majority of mental health services to consumers in the United States (Brekke, Ell, & Palinkas, 2007) Capability: Licensed clinical social workers can provide both clinical services and supervision Mandate: Social workers have an ethical mandate to address issues of social injustice and serve vulnerable populations Educational Capacity: Schools of social work have the research-grounded knowledge base, the resources, and the capacity to train a strong workforce in mental health, developmental disabilities, and substance abuse services
How to Get Trained Social Work Professionals into Underserved Areas of NC? Connect social workers with rural areas while still students Provide specialized training on working in rural areas, cutting-edge mental health, developmental disabilities, and substance abuse services Incentivize via tuition forgiveness and/or financial assistance
Practitioners in Mental Health/Substance Abuse/Developmental Disabilities Serving in Rural Areas What do they need to know? Understand intervention, operations and complexity of the MH/SA/DD delivery system in North Carolina. Develop skills in evidence and research-based best practices for service delivery in underserved rural areas of North Carolina. Ability to effect interdisciplinary services that address the most serious and critical MH/SA/DD issues in underserved contexts with positive outcomes. Develop knowledge and skills of the currently approved and accepted service definitions as well a emerging practice methodologies most relevant to rural practice. Develop and provide specialized content for the MSW degree including enhanced service packages and the understanding of the important issues for rural practice including: interdisciplinary practice, psychotropic drugs, stigma, issues of cultural, racial, and ethnic difference, and reduction in resources.
Summary of Program Components Identify 4 MSW programs across North Carolina (UNC, ASU, ECU, UNCG/NCA&T). Identify a program coordinator Identify 10 second year MSW students at each site who are interested in mental health, developmental disability & substance abuse practice in underserved areas of NC. Identify a part-time (60%) faculty member at each site who will serve as the field liaison and advisor for the 10 students in MH/SS/DD and who will also develop and teach specialized rural practice content in MH/SA/DD and implement the full program curriculum. Identify underserved rural MH/SA/DD providers to serve on the Advisory Policy Board to review and advise regarding curriculum, program goals, progress, and outcomes.
Model of Supporting MH/SA/DD Practice in Underserved Areas of NC Advisory Policy Board ECU UNC ASU UNCG/NCA&T Field liaison, Faculty & advisor Field liaison, Faculty & advisor Program Coordinator Field liaison, Faculty & advisor Field liaison, Faculty & advisor Faculty to develop and teach Intensive class in Rural MH/DD/SA Intensive training week in rural practice 40 students, 5 faculty, 4 MH/SA/DD practitioners Placement Conference
Proposed Budget Student tuition and stipend - $440,000 40 students x $11,000 (10 each site) Faculty = $160,000 4 part-time (60%) faculty @ $40,000 each Program Coordinator - $42,500 40% Support staff = $18,000 Intensive training week = $27,000 Placement Event = $7,500 Advisory Board meetings= $2,500 Supplies, phone, fax = $2,500 Total Annual Cost = $700,000